Getting a Chinese visa in the UK?

Has anyone here successfully gotten a Chinese visa in the UK? Apparently if you get one in the US you can get a 12 month visa, but if you apply in the UK they are unwilling to give more than 30 days because they are unfamiliar with the US-China agreements in place. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Lina

Just in case everyone wants to know, in the UK they will only issue 2 entry visas, even to US citizens who are entitled to 12 month multiple entry visas.

If you want one of these, you need to either go to the States to get one or use a visa service in the US (and mail them your passport)

I got a Chinese visa on my US Passport 2 years ago, I was only going for a week on business so I had a 30 day visa, I think, and it was a single entry. I got it from an expeditor in London, just off Oxford Circus. I had to pay extra for same say service but they were super helpful.
I think in order to qualify for a multiple entry visa, you have to have had a single entry visa issued already, if that makes any sense.
The PRC charges more to issue a visa to an American than a Brit, at least they did as of 2 years ago when I applied.